title: Testicular function and fertility preservation in male cancer patients.
abstract: The testis has been shown to be highly susceptible to the toxic effects of cancer therapy at all stages of life. Young cancer survivors are approximately half as likely as their siblings to sire a pregnancy. Radiation therapy to the testes and high cumulative dose of alkylating agents are the major factors decreasing the probability of fertility. This review aims to present an overview of the current state of knowledge in mechanisms how human spermatogonia proliferate and differentiate and how cancer therapy affects germ cells, what are the options for fertility preservation and what are the clinical risks and limitations related to such procedures. This area of research is discussed in the context of the potential future options that may become available for preserving fertility in male cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland. kirsi.jahnukainen@ki.se
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jahnukainen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ehmcke
authors.forename: Mi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schlatt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000633:toxicity; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000633:toxicity; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002648:Child; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000633:toxicity; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000633:toxicity; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000637:transplantation; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000517:prevention & control; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011627:Puberty; D012662:Semen Preservation; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000637:transplantation
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin